A netizen shared that they’ve been frequently seeing people wearing “On” and “HOKA” shoes on the street lately, making them quite curious about the sudden surge in popularity of these two brands. After the post was published, it immediately attracted a large number of users sharing their experiences, exclaiming that the shoes are not only comfortable, but even after walking tens of thousands of steps daily while traveling in Japan and Europe, their feet didn’t hurt much.

This netizen stated on the social media platform “Threads” that they’ve noticed more and more people around them wearing On and HOKA shoes recently, wondering what’s so special about these two brands. They frankly stated, “In terms of comfort, I still prefer New Balance.”

After the post was published, many netizens who had worn the French sportswear brand HOKA gave it rave reviews, saying things like, “I hiked and walked 10,000 steps every day for 10 days abroad, and my feet didn’t hurt, and my calves didn’t ache,” “I didn’t know anything about shoes until I wore them in Japan and realized how comfortable they are,” “A shoe factory worker passed by, saying they walk at least 20,000 steps a day, and only HOKA can handle that kind of intensity,” “My feet hurt after walking so much in Tokyo, but I bought them immediately after trying them on in a store,” “I have plantar fasciitis, but Hoka doesn’t hurt, and it’s not slippery on tiled floors after rain,” and “I just got them recently, they’re good-looking, comfortable, and bouncy.”

In addition, many netizens recommended the Swiss brand On, responding, “I’ve been wearing On for almost 10 years, but I don’t know why they’ve become so popular in recent years,” “After buying On, my feet don’t hurt even after walking more than 20,000 steps,” “On is really comfortable!” “On allowed me to go shopping in Japan without any foot pain, amazing shoes!” “I highly recommend On; my girlfriend bought me some in Japan, and I don’t wear any other shoes anymore.”

A netizen noticed a recent increase in the number of people wearing “On” and “HOKA” shoes on the street, prompting him to wonder why these two brands have suddenly become so popular. (Photo: On. Reporter Chen Yichen/Photography)

With packed travel schedules abroad, a comfortable pair of shoes often becomes crucial equipment. This website previously reported that a netizen shared that the French professional running shoe brand HOKA, although pricey, made them feel great after walking over 20,000 steps abroad without foot pain, earning them high praise and becoming a fan.

After the post was published, most netizens who had worn HOKA shoes gave it a thumbs up, saying things like, “I bought HOKA shoes for running recently, and wore them on a trip to Japan. I felt like I’d made the right choice; they’re incredibly comfortable and supportive,” “My feet were finally saved after buying them; they’re so comfortable,” “I easily walked 30,000 steps a day in Japan,” “Going abroad felt like walking on clouds,” “My feet were killing me on the second day in Osaka, so I bought a pair at HOKA, and it was totally worth it,” and “We bought them as soon as we got off the plane; they’re so comfortable to walk in.”

However, some netizens held the opposite opinion, responding, “Everyone says HOKA shoes are great, but after two days in Japan, they were completely worn out; the soles are super hard with no cushioning. I bought SKECHERS in Shibuya, which allowed me to finish the rest of the trip, including Disneyland. I don’t recommend HOKA,” “The ones I bought seem more suitable for walking; standing for long periods at work makes my calves cramp easily,” and “I think they’re too bouncy; I feel like my ankles would feel uncomfortable after walking for a while. They’re probably more suitable as running shoes.”